TR EMERITUS

Currently, the Singapore government approve the use of Sinovac vaccine at a lower level than the mNRA vaccines (i.e. Pfizer and Moderna). Patients who prefer Sinovac have to get it from a private clinic and pay a fee to the clinic for the injection. The vaccine is provided free by the government. The government has not recognized the China vaccine for international travel. I believe that the different treatment of Sinovac is unwise. Here are my reasons. 1. Although Sinovac vaccine has a lower efficacy level in stopping the infection, it does not really matter. The studies have shown that Sinovac is able to prevent patients from falling seriously ill. 2. Many countries use Sinovac as their primary vaccine for vaccination. The World Health Organization has also approved its use. 3. Many people prefer to use Sinovac as it uses the traditional method of production, i.e. an inactivated virus. Some people are concerned about the long term about the mNRA vaccines. Singapore should show an example in treating the China vaccines at the same level as the western vaccines (i.e. mNRA vaccine). For practical purposes, all the vaccines have a similar level of effectiveness in dealing with covid. It is unwise to allow the small differences, which are the subject of disputes anyway, from influencing the government policy on the choice of vaccine.   Tan Kin Lian      Read More →

I refer to the article ‘Singapore’s return to tighter rules raises the question: what does living with Covid-19 really mean?’ (South China Morning Post, 23 Jul) Some political observers were quoted as saying that there was “public frustration” between plans to begin treating the virus as endemic and the abrupt return to the Phase 2 Heightened Alert on 22 July. Infectious diseases specialist Professor Paul Tambyah felt that the government was being kiasu as the impact of the Delta variant on Singapore’s health system was “unlikely to be significant” given Singapore’s current vaccination rate. Does the pseudo lockdown come at a price that is too high then? Former NMP and Law Professor Eugene Tan said that the policy making by the 4G leadership was “patchy” as the people expected “to look forward with hope rather than being mired in rollbacks and setbacks”. Frequent change in directives by the MTF “leaves all of us unsure of what living with Covid means”. Furthermore, voters may remember the “major slip-ups” - which the SCMP referred to as the karaoke cluster, the dormitory saga and a more recent cluster at Changi Airport. Tan ultimately felt that the way the pandemic is handled “does not help the standing of the 4G leadership” as they may be seen as being “not equal to the task or that they are unable to work as well as they ought to”. Whilst it may be easier to look at things in hindsight, what does this say about the 4G leadership's ability to lead Singapore?   Leong Sze Hian      Read More →

Singapore has returned to what is politically known as “phase 2” alerts, thanks to an outbreak of cases of Covid-19 in Karaoke joints and the fishery ports. I’ve effectively lost my restaurant side gigs, which had given me much needed pocket money to supplement my weekly income from corporate insolvency and it looks like things will be quiet for a while. A best friend’s mother and brother are down with the virus and life looks a little less promising than it did a few weeks ago. In many ways, the return to these measures is a sign that our government, which the world perceives as being a model of super competence, is a little less than what its public image suggests. The government in particular has been facing plenty of brick bats thanks to the out break in karaoke lounges, which all of us have known were a polite euphemism for whore-joints. I’ve argued on many occasions that Singapore has what one would call an enlightened approach to the vice-trade. Lee Kuan Yew famously stated in his book that a total ban on the trade would only force it underground, so it was better to keep in out in the open. Our red-light districts aren’t as famous as Thailand’s more obvious flesh markets but they’re not the crime infested dens that you see on Western dramas. The police do make their presence felt once in a while. It’s enough of a presence for the pimps and prostitutes to understand that they need to stay on the right side of law enforcement but not so much that business is actually affected. Whilst this approach worked well in normal times, the point remains that these are not normal times. Bars, clubs and other night spots have all been shut down because, well, it’s been proven that the best way to spread this virus is at places where crowds gather. Singapore’s “vice-scene” has been no exception. Geylang, our most prominent spot for the vice trade has been transformed from a bustling spot of activity into a sleepy centre of not very much. Sure, in normal times its fine for the sexually deprived to have a place to relieve themselves but in normal times, you want to limit the places where people are likely to get something nasty. So, many of us are questioning why the karaoke lounges were allowed to stay open and more importantly how was it such where they were able to do so under a legal loophole where they officially claimed that they would “pivot into food and beverage outlets.” What’s more annoying for the tax payers is the fact that those who claimed they were pivoting, helped themselves to a government grant of some $50,000. The pivot is best explained by the following cartoon in our mainstream news What is perhaps far worse than the actual outbreak itself, has been the explanation provided by the government. Singapore’s most pugnacious fighter for truth and justice, our magically unconflicted writer and enforcer of laws, Mr. K Shanmugam proceeded to deliver the what can only be described as a tax-payer insulting, how dare you expect us to do the job you’re paying us to do speeches in parliament. Mr. Shanmugam’s speech can be found at: [LINK] One has to ask if Mr. Shanmugam is determined to provide Singaporeans with another reason not to vote for the ruling party? Why is it such that a ruling party with every advantage determined not to provide the voters with their one simple request – a little bit of humility. Mr. Shanmugam should perhaps look at what Bill Clinton did after his was acquitted in his 1998 impeachment trial. Mr. Clinton invited reporters to the rose garden and ensured that he looked suitably contrite for his role in subjecting the nation to an impeachment trial. He told the world, “There is no fancy way of saying, I have sinned.” Like him or loath him, Mr. Clinton’s contrition after that key moment in his presidency, played a role in ensuring that he saw his presidency as one of the most popular presidents around. People overlooked his indiscretions and obvious flaws and focused on his achievements. This is something our politicians need to learn. The current situation has no precedent. Nobody can expect perfection. However, what we do expect is greater accountability and while we can expect mistakes and oversight, we do expect leadership to own its mistakes. The dialogue should be, you made a mistake, now tell us what are you going to do about it. It should not be “How are you expect me to do my job.”   Tang Li *Although I’ve been based mainly in Singapore for nearly two decades, I’ve had the privilege of being able meet people who have crossed borders and cultures. I’ve befriended ministers and ambassadors and worked on projects involving a former head of state. Yet, at the same time, I’ve had the privilege of befriending migrant labourers and former convicts. All of them have a story to tell. All of them add to the fabric of life. I hope to express the stories that inspire us to create life as it should be.      Read More →